Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator's pay go, state by state?
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator's pay leaves the most room in Nevada — about $5,217/mo take-home against $1,478/mo typical rent — and the least in Oklahoma.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $5,217/mo | $1,478/mo | 28% |
| Alaska | $5,028/mo | $1,361/mo | 27% |
| Washington | $5,091/mo | $1,641/mo | 32% |
| Connecticut | $4,849/mo | $1,483/mo | 31% |
| Illinois | $4,490/mo | $1,246/mo | 28% |
| California | $5,143/mo | $1,969/mo | 38% |
| Minnesota | $4,309/mo | $1,230/mo | 29% |
| New Jersey | $4,550/mo | $1,656/mo | 36% |
| Wisconsin | $3,855/mo | $1,033/mo | 27% |
| Iowa | $3,697/mo | $932/mo | 25% |
| Montana | $3,736/mo | $1,031/mo | 28% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,869/mo | $1,176/mo | 30% |
| Oregon | $4,105/mo | $1,431/mo | 35% |
| Michigan | $3,671/mo | $1,072/mo | 29% |
| Ohio | $3,550/mo | $986/mo | 28% |
| North Dakota | $3,471/mo | $911/mo | 26% |
| Vermont | $3,743/mo | $1,207/mo | 32% |
| South Dakota | $3,380/mo | $910/mo | 27% |
| Massachusetts | $4,182/mo | $1,716/mo | 41% |
| Rhode Island | $3,749/mo | $1,289/mo | 34% |
| Wyoming | $3,427/mo | $979/mo | 29% |
| Colorado | $4,087/mo | $1,659/mo | 41% |
| New York | $4,029/mo | $1,621/mo | 40% |
| Delaware | $3,709/mo | $1,321/mo | 36% |
| Nebraska | $3,324/mo | $1,017/mo | 31% |
| Hawaii | $4,220/mo | $1,927/mo | 46% |
| Indiana | $3,303/mo | $1,022/mo | 31% |
| New Hampshire | $3,641/mo | $1,424/mo | 39% |
| Missouri | $3,192/mo | $997/mo | 31% |
| Utah | $3,588/mo | $1,396/mo | 39% |
| Arizona | $3,583/mo | $1,419/mo | 40% |
| Maine | $3,253/mo | $1,104/mo | 34% |
| Kentucky | $3,062/mo | $918/mo | 30% |
| Alabama | $3,038/mo | $967/mo | 32% |
| Tennessee | $3,153/mo | $1,111/mo | 35% |
| North Carolina | $3,150/mo | $1,147/mo | 36% |
| South Carolina | $3,123/mo | $1,131/mo | 36% |
| West Virginia | $2,812/mo | $848/mo | 30% |
| Kansas | $2,987/mo | $1,025/mo | 34% |
| Idaho | $3,120/mo | $1,163/mo | 37% |
| Florida | $3,388/mo | $1,542/mo | 46% |
| New Mexico | $2,859/mo | $1,034/mo | 36% |
| Georgia | $3,107/mo | $1,320/mo | 42% |
| Mississippi | $2,683/mo | $933/mo | 35% |
| Maryland | $3,401/mo | $1,683/mo | 49% |
| Virginia | $3,229/mo | $1,547/mo | 48% |
| Texas | $2,984/mo | $1,328/mo | 45% |
| Arkansas | $2,545/mo | $903/mo | 35% |
| Louisiana | $2,558/mo | $1,028/mo | 40% |
| Oklahoma | $2,486/mo | $970/mo | 39% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.